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Hopeful Realism
in Urban Ministry
Hopeful Realism
in Urban Ministry
Critical Explorations and Constructive Affirmations of Hoping Justice Prayerfully
Barry K. Morris
foreword by Tim Dickau
To that cloud of steadfastly faithful witnesses—also, alas, those who have fumbled and stumbled along the way as even fragmentary partakers of “the Way” with and for urban ministries—you are the salt of the earth: your flavor sustains.
Contents
Foreword by Tim Dickau · vii
Preface and Acknowledgements · vii
Chapter 1—Proposal of Hopeful Realism · vii
On Realism: Finitude, Ignorance and Sin · vii
On Hope: Pressing the Limits · vii
Hope and Realism Combined: Leaven of a Just Realm beyond Our Eager but Meager Strivings · vii
Hopeful Realism for Urban Ministry: Animating Contrast Awareness · vii
Framing Urban Ministry via a Triad: Grounded, Hopeful Realism · vii
Discerning Key Elements in Urban Ministries · vii
Chapter 2—Urban Ministry and Theology’s Enduring Themes · vii
Survey of the Field and Actors · vii
Anthologies, Urban Training and Action Research · vii
Smouldering Embers · vii
Critical and New Faithful Responses · vii
Summary Conclusion · vii
Chapter 3—Urban Ministry Dynamics and Triad Intimations · vii
In the Midst of Despair, Hope Intimated · vii
In the Midst of ‘Endless’ Charity, Justice Intimated · vii
In the Midst of ‘Heroic’ Weariness, Prayer Intimated · vii
Search for Theological Containers and Anchorages · vii
Venture of Crossovers and Hybrids · vii
Inspiring, Sustaining and Renewing Themes · vii
Triad, Critical Responses and Hopeful Realism · vii
Summary · vii
Chapter 4—Hope via Moltmann and Urban Ministry Intimations · vii
Introduction · vii
Moltmann’s Theology toward Hope · vii
What Brought Moltmann to Hope · vii
Long-Haul Resources via Moltmann’s Theology of Hope · vii
Hoping Justice Prayerfully Intimations and Urban Ministry Implications · vii
Summary · vii
Chapter 5—Justice via Niebuhr and Urban Ministry Intimations · viii
Introduction · viii
Niebuhr’s Understanding and Implications of Justice · viii
Love Is Not Enough: What Brought Niebuhr to Justice · viii
Long Haul Resources for What Kept Niebuhr Committed to Justice · viii
Praying Justice Hopefully, Intimations, and Urban Ministry Implications · viii
Summary · viii
Chapter 6—Prayer via Merton and Urban Ministry Intimations · viii
Merton’s Theology of Prayer · viii
Long Haul Resources for Merton’s Theology of Prayer · viii
Just Prayer Hopefully, Triad Intimations and Urban Ministry Implications · viii
A Summary Triad: Grounding Reflection · viii
Chapter 7—Longhouse Ministry and Networking · viii
Introduction · viii
Indispensable Networks · viii
On Cases: Intrinsic and Instrumental · viii
Enduring Responses and the Help of Response Ethics’ Criteria · viii
Longhouse Ministry Nourishment · viii
The Triad, Realism, and the Longhouse · viii
Longhouse Ministry and Network Comparisons · viii
Triad’s Conjunctive in the Service of Hopeful Realism · viii
If Only Justice Is Present · viii
If Only Prayer Is Present · viii
If Only Hope Is Present · viii
If Two Discipline Terms Are Present but Not the Third · viii
Summary Conclusion · viii
Chapter 8—Summary Considerations and Conclusions · viii
Introduction · viii
A Singular Prayer in Focus · viii
The Original Serenity Prayer Clause-by-Clause · viii
Grace Hi-lighted · viii
Conclusion · viii
Appendix A: The Merton and New Monasticism Check and Balance · viii
The New Monastics’ Vocation and Challenge · viii
Probing a Constructive Criticism · viii
The Praying Justice Hopefully Triad · viii
Steadfast Insights and Guidance · viii
Appendix B: Networks’ Viva Voce Testimonies and Inducing Central Story Line · ix
From the Streams of Justice (SoJ) network’s co-founders: · ix
From Metro Vancouver Alliance (MVA): · ix
From A Community Aware (ACA) by way of co-founder Terry Patten, with Mary Etey and Ken Lyotier: · ix
A Concluding note from FNSP student researcher Andrea Reid: · ix
Inducing a compact story-line via a brief application of grounded theory · ix
Bibliography · ix
Index · ix
Foreword
Urban ministry, especially when it is going “well”, can often be exhilarating and exciting. Sticking with urban ministry through congregational, neighborhood, and cultural transition, when the church is struggling for survival, is often painstaking and tedious. With thankful exceptions, most books on urban ministry seem to be written by those for whom things are going “well”, for folks who seem to be a cut above other practitioners in their entrepreneurial and charismatic leadership. Most of those books leave the rest of us in urban ministry feeling less of ourselves and our churches.
This book is different. This book is written by a man who has persisted in a three-decade long obedience while being honest about his own struggles. This book is written by someone who has continued to pursue a hopeful and prayerful justice in the face of numerous obstacles. This book is written by someone who has continued to look outwards, learning from and synthesizing into his own ministry the challenging vision of theologians and cultural critics. This book is written to encourage you.
Barry and I began working in our neighboring parishes at about the same time. I have watched, observed, admired, confided in, complained to and collaborated with Barry over the years. What I appreciate most about Barry is that he continues to work with what is in front of him. He starts where